The United States Army Installation Management Command supports the United States Army's warfighting mission by working to provide standardized, effective & efficient services, facilities and infrastructure to Soldiers, Civilians and Families.[1] IMCOM's vision statement is: Army installations are the DoD standard for infrastructure quality and are the provider of consistent, quality services that are a force multiplier in supported organizations' mission accomplishment, and materially enhance Soldier and Family well-being and readiness.[2]

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Artist's rendering of the new IMCOM Headquarters on Fort Sam Houston, TX.

The United States Army Installation Management Command (IMCOM),[5] was activated on 24 Oct. 2006,[6] to reduce bureaucracy, apply a uniform business structure to manage U.S. Army installations, sustain the environment[7] and enhance the well-being of the military community.[8] It consolidated three organizations under a single command as a direct reporting unit:[9]

The former Army Environmental Center,[13] now called the Army Environmental Command (AEC), which is a subordinate command of IMCOM.[14]

Prior to the Installation Management Command, the Army's 184 installations[15] were managed by one of 15 Major Commands. Support services varied – some provided better services, some provided worse. In September 2001, Army SecretaryThomas E. White introduced the Transformation of Installation Management (TIM),[16] formerly known as Centralized Installation Management (CIM), pledging the Army would implement better business practices and realign installation management to create a more efficient and effective corporate management structure for Army installations worldwide. On 1 Oct. 2002, the Army formed IMA as a field operating agency of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management (ACSIM) as part of an ongoing effort to realign installations.[17]

Many of the issues with the 15 major commands (List of Major Commands of the United States Army) holding responsibility for base support was that the structure created many inequities throughout the Army. There were no common standards, consistent services or an acutely managed infrastructure. This created an environment where funding was often diverted from installation support to operations. Additionally, there were too many military personnel conducting garrison support operations rather than mission duties. The creation of IMCOM was a commitment to eliminate these inequities, focus on installation management and enhance the well-being of Soldiers, Families and Civilians.

Centralizing installation management was a culture change in the Army; working through the transfers of personnel and funding issues was difficult. In a large organizational change, IMCOM became the Army’s single agency responsible for worldwide installation management, managing 184 Army installations globally with a staff of 120,000 military, civilian and contract members across seven regions on four continents.[18]

The Army Family Covenant is the Army’s statement of commitment to provide high quality services to Soldiers – Active component or Reserve components, single or married, regardless of where they serve – and their Families.

The Installation Management Command supports the Army Family Covenant[19] and provides a set of tools Soldiers and Army Families can use to locate and access the facilities and services they need.[20]

"We recognize the commitment and increasing sacrifices that our families are making every day. We recognize the strength of our Soldiers comes from the strength of their families. We are committed to providing our families a strong, supportive environment where they can thrive. We are committed to building a partnership with Army families that enhances their strength and resilience. We are committed to improving family readiness by:

Standardizing and funding existing family programs and services

Increasing accessibility and quality of healthcare

Improving Soldier and family housing

Ensuring excellence in schools, youth services, and child care

Expanding education and employment opportunities for family members"[21]

The First Sergeant's Barracks Initiative (FSBI) was implemented within IMCOM to improve quality of life throughout Army installations. It has led to projects such as these new barracks constructed on Fort Bragg.